HOW-TO TIPS

How-To Tips: Maine Decor

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Dressing up your Cupboard

Have a cupboard or bookcase that has lost it's look? Need to freshen up that outdated decor in your kitchen or hallway? Tracey Rapisardi shows us first hand how to arrange, decorate and bring new life to that cupboard. Bring in texture, layers, and a sense of balance to that old family piece or new modern cupboard.

Step One:

Creating "bones" or the foundation for your decor is essential. Place your larger items in the cupboard first to set some focal points. A diamond or triangle shape sets up a structure that you can add to without this things end up too random or unstructured.

Notice the large platter in the center has now become a focal point because of how the other pieces are placed around it. This creates a balanced arrangement to work from.

Step Two:

Once you have settled on the structure now it's time to add height and shape to your arrangement. Here Tracey adds a stack of plates and a water pitcher to the second self and a shorter pitcher is added to the third shelf. This breaks up the rigid structure and starts to add depth the the whole piece.

By using shades of white, like Tracey does here, it is important to add height and shape for some interest, but the white also makes the green really pop!

Step Three:

Once the height is added now it's time to add a little more depth and interest. Adding personal items like a sea shell and sea star, the piece starts to take on a new life.

These cupboards are not just for china, add a photo in a beautiful frame, a few stones, or a book. One important part, that is often overlooked, is to back up and take a look. By taking a few steps back you can see whether or not the piece is staying "balanced".

Step Four:

When your done stepping back you can filling in the empty spots. A group of tea cups and an emerald green jar fill in the spots and add some interesting accents.

The addition of these pieces also break up the line created by the plates behind them. If you want to add a little randomness this is the perfect solution.

Step Five:

Don't forget the bottom. By adding a wicker basket filled with kitchen linens and table cloths you tie in the bottom to the rest of the cupboard.

Balance not only works from left to right but also from top to bottom. This basket is the perfect size to even out the weight of the top and bottom. You could also use a stack of books or blankets.

Tracey Rapisardi has been working as an interior designer for the past twenty years. From Maine to Florida and beyond Tracey has helped home owners with their decorating needs. She also runs Sea Rose in South Portland, a beautiful home furnishing store that helps her service her clients and for those looking for the perfect piece for their home. Tracey's work has been showcased in such magazines as Coastal Living.

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